The River Rhine

International River – Busy Waterway

Ever wondered what the famous river Rhine is all about? Then be welcome to read more. The river rhine or the eternal river is one of the biggest rivers in Europe. Traditionally, it has its spring in the Swiss Canton of Graubuenden, in the Toma Lake just below the Sankt Gotthard mountain building the anterior Rhine. Another 13 source brooks form the posterior Rhine. At the Swiss town of Tamins both anterior and posterior Rhine form the Alpine Rhine.

Over a distance of 1,232.7 km the river Rhine connects the Alps with Central and Western Europe. On its course the river forms the Swiss border to Liechtenstein and to Austria, the Franco-German border and continues to flow through Germany and The Netherlands to end its course in the Greater Rotterdam Area where most of its estuary run into the North Sea.

Quite a number of medium-sized, large and important inland ports lie along the Rhine, performing a great job for freight transport and handling of goods in the inland. Furthermore, these inland ports with their terminal services are most important for the hinterland traffic of the so-called ZARA Ports (Antwerpen-Zeebrugge, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Even for the German North Sea ports the Rhine is of great importance. Link: List of German Inland Ports upon the Rhine. Link: Most Important Inland Ports upon the Rhine

The economical function apart, the river Rhine is also important for recreation, tourism and transport in general and substantial water source.

The river Rhine is the second-longest river in Central and Western Europe, after the Danube which runs over a distance of 2,145 km.

The Middle Rhine was declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 2002.

The Course of the Rhine

In the Swiss Town of Tamin anterior and posterior Rhine join to form the Alpine Rhine (Rhine proper). In Switzerland the river Rhine forms three sections which are Alpine Rhine, Lake Rhine and High Rhine. The Lake Rhine is where the Rhine runs through Lake Constance (Obersee) leaving at Untersee. The course through Lake Constance is only 4 km long. After leaving the Untersee, the Lake Rhine passes through Constance and the middle of the Old Constance Rhine is where Rhine kilometer 0 (zero) begins. The High Rhine begins at Stein upon Rhein. At Schaffhausen the Rhine forms the famous Rhine Falls. After the falls the Rhine continues to Basel thereby forming the Swiss-German border. From the town of Rheinfelden the Rhine is navigable. Also at Rheinfelden, the Upper Rhine begins, ending at Basel after a run of 170 km. In Basel is the first major inland port at the Rhine.

Between Basel and the Dutch-German border at Emmerich the Rhine covers a distance of 696 km navigable waterway. Along the Rhine lie a large number of important medium-sized and large inland ports of which Duisburg is, by far, the largest on the Rhine and in the whole of Europe. The rivers Main, Mosel, Lahn and Ruhr joyn the Rhine in its course. Canal waterways connect the Rhine with the river Danube (Rhine-Main-Danube Canal) and with the Black Sea and other canal waterways connect the Rhine with the German ports in the North Sea and with the Baltic Sea.

In The Netherlands the river Rhine finishes its run, flowing into the North Sea. Beginning at the Dutch-German border the Rhine forms its huge estuary consisting of the delta distributaries Nederrijn, Ijssel and Lek, Waal and Noord, Nieuwe Maas, Oude Maas, Nieuwe Mervede and Beneden Mervede, Hollands Diep and Haringvliet. In the Greater Rotterdam area the Rhine flows into the North Sea. Large canals connect the Rhine with the Scheldt estuary which itself connects Antwerp to the North Sea.

• Important German Inland Ports upon the Rhine
• Important Dutch Inland Ports upon the Rhine
• The Rhine in Rotterdam until it runs into the North Sea

The Rhine – a European Waterway

Only from Basel the Rhine is really important for inland navigation. Between the Swiss-German border at Basel (Rhine km 170) and up north towards the Dutch-German border at the town of Emmerich (Rhine km 865,51) over stretch of 695,51 km the river Rhine is the longest German waterway, the most busy waterway in Germany and Europe and one of the most busy waterways in the world.

Important German Inland Ports between Basel and Emmerich

Even the Romans knew that there is no proper inland navigation without ports. Therefore, quite a number of inland ports is lined up on both banks of the river Rhine in Germany and in The Netherlands, with Rotterdam having the majority of Terminals. Still Duisburg does have the larges inland port in Europe. The important German inland ports are listed below:

• Basel
• Basel-Rheinhalle - Rhine Level Basel-Rheinhalle - Rhine Km 165,90
• German Border - Rhein-Km 170,00
• Weil am Rhein - Hafen Weil a. Rh. Süd - from Rhine Km 170,34 - right bank
• Weil am Rhein - Hafen Weil a. Rh. Nord - ab Rhine Km 172,70 - right bank
• Branch-Off Schleusenkanal Strasbourg - port entrance at Rhine Km 283,10 - left bank
• Schutzhafen Strasbourg - port entrance at Rhine Km 291,40 - left bank
• Kehl - Rhine Level Kehl - Rhine Km 292,25 - right bank
• Kehl - Hafen Kehl - port entrance at Rhine Km 297,68 - right bank
• Karlsruhe - Rheinhäfen Karlsruhe - port entrance at Rhine Km 359,90 - right bank
• Karlsruhe - Ölhafen Karlsruhe - port entrance at Rhine Km 367,50 - right bank
• Germersheim - Port of  Germersheim - port entrance at Rhine Km 385,35 - left bank
• Speyer - Städtischer Hafen Speyer - port entrance at Rhine Km 399,60 - left bank
• Mannheim - Hafengebiet Mannheim 2 - Rheinauhafen - Rhine Km 411,95-417,20 right bank
• Mannheim - Hafenbecken 24 - port entrance at Rhine Km 412,85 - right bank
• Mannheim - Hafenbecken 23 und 22 - port entrance at Rhine Km 414,50 - right bank
• Mannheim - Hafenbecken 21 - port entrance at Rhine Km 415,10 - right bank
• Ludwigshafen - Kaiserwörthhafen und Ölhafen - port entrance at Rhine Km 421,40 - left bank
• Mannheim - Rhine Level Mannheim - Rhine Km 424,73 - right bank
• Neckar-River Mouth - Rhine Km 428,16 - right bank
• Mannheim - Hafengebiet Mannheim 3 und 4 - Rhine Km 428,20-432,00
• Mannheim - Altrheinhafen 31, Ölhafen 33 und Industriehafen 4 - port entrance at Rhine Km 431,40 - right bank
• Ludwigshafen - Nordhafen - port entrance at Rhine Km 431,66 - left bank
• Mannheim - Handelshafen - port entrance at Rhine Km 432,60 - right bank
• Worms - Rhine Level Worms - Rhein-Km 443,40 - left bank
• Worms - Handelshafen Worms- port entrance at Rhine Km 444,50 - left bank
• Gernsheim - Harbour Basin 1 - port entrance at Rhine Km 462,10 - right bank
• Gernsheim - Harbour Basin 2 - port entrance at Rhine Km 462,40 - right bank
• Main-River Mouth - Rhein-Km 496,63 - right bank
  
• Mainz - Floßhafen Mainz-Kastel - port entrance at Rhine Km 498,10 - right bank
• Mainz - Pegel Main - Rhein-Km 498,27 - left bank
• Mainz - Hafenbereich Stadtwerke Mainz - Rhine Km 500,08-503,80 - right bank
• Mainz - Customs Harbour - Rhein-Km 500,10 - left bank
• Mainz - Industrial Harbour Mainz - port entrance at Rhine Km 503,63 - left bank
• Rüdesheim - Bundeseigener Hafen Rüdesheim - port entrance at Rhine Km 525,30 - right bank
• Lahn-River Mouth - Rhein-Km 529,10 - left bank
• Kaub - Rhine Level Kaub - Rhein-Km 546,30 - right bank
• Lahnstein - Lahnstein Harbour - port entrance at Km 585,50 - right bank
• Lahn-Mündung - Rhein-Km 585,72 - left bank
• Koblenz - Bundeseigener Hafen Rheinlache - port entrance at Rhine Km 590,00 - left bank
• Koblenz - Bundeseigener Hafen Ehrenbreitstein - port entrance at Rhine Km 591,40 - right bank
• Koblenz - Rhine Level Koblenz - Rhine Km 591,50 - left bank
• Mosel-River Mouth - Rhine Km 592,30 - left bank
• Koblenz - Handelshafen Koblenz-Wallersheim - port entrance at Rhine Km 596,50 - left bank
• Linz - Rhine Level Linz - Rhine Km 629,90 - right bank
• Oberwinter - Rhine Level Oberwinter - Rhine Km 638,19 - right bank
• Bonn - Rhine Level Bonn - Rhine Km 654,79 - left bank
• Bonn - Godorf Harbour - port entrance at Rhine Km 671,96 - linkes Ufer
• Köln - Köln-Deutz Harbour - Umschlags- und Industriehafen - port entrance at Rhine Km 687,30 - right bank
• Köln - Rhine Level Köln - Rhein-Km 688,00 - left bank
• Köln - Handels- und fiskaler Schutzhafen Köln-Mühlheim - port entrance at Rhine Km 691,50 - right bank
• Köln - Handels- und Industriehafen Köln-Niehl I - port entrance at Rhine Km 695,82 (Molenkopf) - left bank
• Dormagen UCT - left bank
• Neuss - Port of  Neuss - port entrance at Rhine Km 740,20 - left bank
• Düsseldorf - Städtischer Hafen Düsseldorf - DCH Düsseldorfer Container Hafen - port entrance at Rhine Km 743,10 - right bank
• Düsseldorf - Rhine Level Düsseldorf - Rhine Km 744,20 - right bank
• Krefeld-Uerdingen - KCT Krefelder Container Terminal - port entrance at Rhine Km 740,68 - left bank
• Duisburg-Rheinhausen - DIT Duisburg Intermodal Terminal - Logport - port entrance at Rhine Km 773,55 - left bank
• Ruhr-River Mouth - Rhine Km 780,14 (Orientierungsfeuer)
• Duisburg Ruhrort - Duisport - Harbour Canal Becken A,B und C - port entrance at Rhine Km 780,33 - right bank
• Duisburg Ruhrort - Duisport - Hafenmud, Nord- und Südhafen, Werfthafen, Bunkerhafen, Vinckekanal - port entrance at Rhine Km 780,76 - right bank
• Duisburg - Rhine Level Ruhrort - Rhine Km 780,80 - right bank
• Duisburg - Hafen Schwelgern (Schwelgern Harbour) - Werkshafen ThyssenKrupp - port entrance at Rhine Km 790,20 - right bank
• Duisburg - Südhafen Walsum (South Harbour Walsum) - Werkshafen ThyssenKrupp - port entrance at Rhine Km 791,20 - right bank
• Duisburg - Nordhafen Walsum (North Harbour Walsum) - Werkshafen ThyssenKrupp - port entrance at Rhine Km 793,00 - right bank
• Wesel - Rhine Levell Wesel - Rhine Km 814,00 - right bank
• Wesel - Emmelsum Harbour - port entrance at Rhine Km 814,54 - right bank
• Rees - Rhine Level Rees - Rhine Km 837,40 - right bank
• Emmerich - Industrial Harbour Emmerich - port entrance at Rhine Km 851,60 - right bank
• Emmerich - Rhine Level Emmerich (deutsche Grenzstation) - Rhine Km 851,90 - right bank
• Emmerich - Bundeseigner Hafen - port entrance at Rhine Km 871,78 (pier head) - right bank
• German Border - Rhine Km 865,15

The Course of the Rhine in The Netherlands

The Most Important Dutch Inland Ports

• Lobith - Rhine Level Lobith - Rhine Km 862,00 - right bank
• Lobbith - Dutch Border Station- Rhine Km 862,62 - right bank
• Branch-Off Nederrijn - Rhine Km 867,46 right bank
• Branch-Off Waal - Rhine Km 867,46 - left bank
• Waal from Rhine Km 867,46 to 952,50
• Nijmegen - Rhine Km 883,40-884,50
• Sleeuwijk - Port of Sleeuwijk - Rhine Km 955,50 - left bank
• Branch-Off Mervede-Kanal atRhine Km 955,50 - right bank
• Merwede from Rhine Km 952,50 to 976,20
• Branch-Off Merwede-Kanal - Rhine Km 955,50  right bank
• Sleeuwijk - Industrial Port- port entrance at Rhine Km 956,50 - left bank
• Branch-Off Nieuwe Merwede - Rhine Km 961,30 - left bank
• Dordrecht - 3. Port of Merwede - port entrance at Rhine Km 970,00 - left bank
• Slieddrecht - Port of Sliedrecht - port entrance at Rhine Km 970,00 - right bank
• Dordrecht - 2. Port of Merwede - port entrance at Rhine Km 973,20 - left bank
• Dordrecht - 1. Port of Merwede - port entrance at Rhine Km 974,40 - left bank
• Branch-Off Noord - Rhine Km 976,20 right bank
• Branch-Off Oude Maas - Rhine Km 976,20 left bank
• Noord - Rhine Km 976,20 - 984,90
• Ambacht - Port of Hendrik Ido - port entrance at Rhine Km 980,50 - left bank
• Ablasserdam - Port of Ablasserdam - Rhine Km 981,10 - right bank
• Ridderkerk - Port of Ridderkerk - Rhine Km 983,40 - left bank
• Einmündung Lek - Rhine Km 984,90 - right bank
• Nieuwe Maas from Rhine Km 909,20 to 1012,40
• Branch-Off Hollandsche Ijssel - Rhine Km 994,30 - right bank

Continue to Rotterdam (RTM) and the Rotterdam Ports and Terminals

The Rhine in Rotterdam until it runs into the North Sea

At Rhine Km 997,43 the port facilities of Rotterdam begin, at first on left banks and later on both banks of the river until the Rhine runs into the North Sea at Hoek van Holland (right bank) at Rhine Km 1034,50. The Rhine estuary has enormous dimensions, and quite a number of differently named river sections.

• Nieuwe Maas from Rhine Km 909,20 to 1012,40
• Branch-Off Hollandsche Ijssel - Rhine Km 994,30 - right bank
• Rotterdam - Hafenanlagen Rotterdam - von Rhine Km 997,43 bis 1014,00 - left bank
• Rotterdam - Hafenanlagen Rotterdam - von Rhine Km 999,40 bis 1006,40 - right bank
• River Mouth Rotte - Leuvehaven - Rhine Km 1000,80 - right bank
• Rotterdam - Maastunnel - Rhine Km 1002,50 - left and right banks
• Rotterdam Parkhaven - River Mouth Schlie - Rhine Km 1002,54 - right bank
• Rotterdam - RTM - Waalhaven - port entrance at Rhine Km 1002,54 - left bank
• Rotterdam - RTM Schiedam - Rhine Km 1006,40 - 1009,33 - right bank
• Rotterdam - RTM Wilhelminahaven - port entrance at Rhine Km 1007,60 - right bank
• Rotterdam - RTM Eemhaven - port entrance at Rhine Km 1007,60 - left bank
• Nieuwe Waterweg from Rhine Km 10112,40 to 1036,20
• River Mouth Oude Maas - Rhine Km 1012,75 - left bank
• Rotterdam - Petrol Port 1-7
• Rotterdam - RTM Botlek - Rhine Km 1014,00 - left bank
• Rotterdam - Europort
• Rotterdam Maasflakte
• Rotterdam - Hoek van Holland - Rhine Km 1022,13 - right bank
• Rotterdam - Estuary into the North Sea - Rhine Km 1034,50